LC State Men's Track and Field Shines at Inland Northwest Invitational

Kobe Wessels and Preston Cooper lead the Warriors with standout performances in Spokane

Feb. 1, 2026 at 4:55pm

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The LC State Men's Track and Field team had a strong showing at the Inland Northwest Invitational in Spokane, Washington, with multiple athletes setting personal records and making their mark in the program's record books. Kobe Wessels and Preston Cooper were the standouts, with Wessels running the third-fastest mile in program history and Cooper posting the second-fastest 200m time ever by a Warrior.

Why it matters

This meet was an important tune-up for the Warriors as they prepare for the upcoming Idaho Invite and the NAIA national championships. The team's performance, especially from key contributors like Wessels and Cooper, demonstrates their depth and potential to make a splash at the higher levels of competition.

The details

Wessels shaved nearly 20 seconds off his previous personal best to run the third-fastest mile in LC State history, clocking a time of 4:14.59 which ranks ninth in the NAIA this season. Cooper ran the second-fastest 200m in program history, finishing in 21.94. Other notable performances included Aidan Grenier's fourth-place finish in the 60m hurdles, James Bogdanowicz's career-best pole vault of 4.47m, and Reid Thomas' sixth-place finish in the shot put.

  • The Inland Northwest Invitational took place on February 1, 2026.

The players

Kobe Wessels

A member of the LC State Men's Track and Field team who ran the third-fastest mile in program history at the Inland Northwest Invitational.

Preston Cooper

A member of the LC State Men's Track and Field team who ran the second-fastest 200m in program history at the Inland Northwest Invitational.

Mike Collins

The head coach of the LC State Men's Track and Field team.

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What they’re saying

“We are at that time in our season when some of our aches and pains and injuries, and just the drain of training, start to catch up with us a little bit. Despite that, we did have a few shiny spots today.”

— Mike Collins, Head Coach

What’s next

The Warriors will next compete at the Idaho Invite, where they may rest some athletes to prepare for the NAIA national championships.

The takeaway

The strong performances by Wessels, Cooper, and others at the Inland Northwest Invitational demonstrate the depth and potential of the LC State Men's Track and Field team as they gear up for the most important meets of the season.